CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY :: CSR - 4 ::

GATEWAY MOTIVATES MARIAM TO WIN INTERNATIONAL BILLIARDS

BY P S SUNDAR

The HODs of The Gateway Hotel, Coonoor, assembled at the hotel's conference room on the evening of January 28 for a noble and novel cause.  They welcomed their invitees -- office bearers of Nilgiri District Billiards and Snooker Association (NDBSA) and media personnel -- to a programme they justifiably sponsored.  

The event was NDBSA honouring  13 year-old J Mariam Agnish, eighth standard student of St Joseph's Girls' Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, for doing proud the Nilgiris district and Tamil Nadu state by securing National No: 2 position in Billiards junior and No:3 position in sub-junior at 'National Championship 2015' recently held in Kolkata.  By virtue of this, Mariam stands to represent India in international junior and sub-junior contests.

As a TATA enterprise, the hotel, a wing of the Taj Group, has been creating a niche for itself in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It is a balance between supporting the needy with essentials like food and clothing and developing a value-added society empowered to stand on its own.  As the founder Jamsetji Tata left the legacy, this hotel lives to the concept that the 'purpose of business' is not just making profits but development and advancement of the society in which it operates.  

D Antony Gerald, Human Resources Manager of Taj group of hotels, Nilgiris, did a marvelous presentation to introduce the appreciate audience to this concept of CSR followed in the Nilgiris.     "We firmly believe in giving back to society some useful portion of what we earn.  We begin every year by sharing our first meal with under-privileged.  We taken enormous enjoyment in engaging ourselves to assist the needy with clothes, blankets and other essentials.   But, more importantly, we stand up whenever occasions come to encourage the segments of the society to build sustainable livelihood.  The society and environment are among our stakeholders.  Today, we are taking pride in congratulating Mariam Agnish of Coonoor on her taking the Nilgiris to international Billiards map.  We thank NDBSA for giving us this opportunity to motivate this young girl in the Gateway ambiance", he noted. 

Gateway General Manager R Muralidharan is himself an extra-ordinary Billiards and Snooker player with many awards to his credit over the years.   Hailing from a family which is associated with promoting Billiards, he had a different role to play at this function -- as the NDBSA Secretary-in-charge, he had to honour Mariam Agnish, which he did in professional style.  On the one hand, he presented the warm feelings of all through a massive bouquet of flowers ;  

on the other, he presented gifts and re-enacted the occasion of winning by presenting the coveted Trophy.

Muralidharan promised all possible assistance from NDBSA not only to Mariam but to all desirous and competent youths to scale new heights.   He gave an orientation on to the birth and growth of NDBSA.    "The Nilgiris has a connection with global Snooker.  Way-back, the formalised rules of Snooker were officially announced and posted on the Notice Board in Ootacamund Club.  Now, history has again been created with Mariam excelling in Snooker and Billiards games", he noted.  

“Nilgiris Collector Dr P Sankar honoured me when I won at Tamil Nadu level and now, world champions Pankaj Advani, Uma Devi, Chithra Devi and National champions Vidhya Pillai and Alok Kumar besides international referee R B Ganesh have complimented me.  Adding to this, is NDBSA on the one side and The Gateway Hotel Coonoor on the other.  I feel motivated to represent India at international contests”, Mariam said justifying the encouragement bestowed on her. 

She was honoured along with her father AJS Kumar and mother Catherene Anitha.   Kumar is working as Billiards marker at Coonoor Club but an accomplished player himself with many prizes tro his credit over the years. He is the coach of Mariam. 

They belong to a lower economic stratum and that adds credit to Gateway Hotel Coonoor for the great motivation accorded.   "This is something phenomenal.  We are grateful to Gateway for this memorable opportunity", Kumar told me. 

"But, the results are flowing in.  At this function, Swamy Iyya Trust has gifted Rs 10,000 and Champion Billiards Aacdemy Rs 1,000 to help Mariam pursue her quality games", Gerald added. 

The Gateway Hotel Coonoor has once again proved its efficiency in driving value-creation in the community it is surrounded with. 

HOTEL - 2::

TAJ CALENDAR :: ASSOCIATES CREATE ART IN SERVICE

BY P S SUNDAR

                  I notice that the Taj Group has utilised the platform of its desk calendar 2015 (which P Vibhakar, General Manager, Taj Savoy Hotel, Ooty, has sent me) to accord an artistic importance to the facilities and services rendered by its hotels and associates.

                 Titled 'A Retrospective of Modern Indian Art', the calendar highlights India's art modernity found in the Taj hotels as subtly described in the claim, 'as told by the walls of the Taj' seen in this cover against the backdrop of an abstract oil on canvas art by V S Gaitonde ::

                    
                   While the art is Indian, the Taj properties sporting them are in India and abroad.   Likewise, the visitors who enjoy viewing them are from India and abroad.  "For over a century, Taj hotels have inspired the most discerning travelers with one of the largest collections of modern Indian art", records the preface.   There is also the claim that while many art works are exhibited in public places, some are presented only to resident guests. 

                  For sample, herewith 'Sails in The Harbour' warer colour heightened with body colour by Jehangir Sabavala ::

                   Or, this one of oil on canvas from Badri Narayan ::

                     Here is M F Husain's oil on canvas ::

                      Or, this one of Gouache on Card by Jamini Roy ::

                     Art works of Laxman Shrestha, Ram Kumar, Akbar Padamsee, Paresh Maity, Anjolie Ela Menon, S H Raza and K H Ara are also featured in the calendar. 

                     The message is loud and clear :: "Like the artists represented here, our associates practise their craft with passion and dedication.... When perfected, any form of human endeavour is elevated to an art form.  The practice of perfect hospitality is truly performance".

                    The calendar carries photos of 12 Taj properties including few from abroad.  Like this St James' Court in London::

                      




Or The Pierre in New York ::

                       Among the majesties is The Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad::

                       The calendar is decorated also with Taj Exotica Resort & Spa (Maldives), Umaid Bhawan Palace (Jodhpur), Rambagh Palace (Jaipur), Vivanta by byTaj- Yeshwantpur (Bangalore), Vivanta by Taj - Dal View (Srinagar), The Taj West End (Bangalore), Taj Lake Palace (Udaipur) and The Taj Mahal Palace (Mumbai). 

                       In the end, there are descriptions about the brands 'Restorts and Palaces', 'Vivanta by Taj', Gateway Hotels and Resorts' and 'Ginger Hotels' with lists of the hotels.  Details on Taj Air also appear.   Contact details and Global Sales Offices are also appended. 


                       

Among future projects, Taj Dubai has gained prominence as this photo shows::

                     




                     Vivanta by Taj Guwahati (Assam), The Gateway Hotel in Pune, Corbett and Shimla will open soon. 

                      In sum, 2015 calendar of Taj is a signature product of Taj as the art works possessed by it are!

                  

                   

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ::  CSR - 3 ::

GEM PARK EMPLOYEES CONTINUE TO DONATE

BY P S SUNDAR

In this Blog on Dec 20, 2014, we had highlighted the blood donation service rendered by the staff of Gem Park Hotels and Resorts Ooty (Corporate Social Responsibility :: CSR 1).

GEM DONOR HEROES

             Now, the donors have been honoured with certificates appreciating their service to community::

   

The Blood donation was conducted with the support of the Nilgiris wing of Indian Red Cross Society.  So, in gratitude, Ismail Khan, Resident Director of Gem Park, donated a heater to Red Cross to propel furtherance of its services.

And, the Red Cross officials sensitised the Gem Park staff on the need to donate eyes ::

FOOD - 2:

REGIONAL FOOD AT TAJ, A GREAT HIT

BY P S SUNDAR

                The concept of regional food in the menu of star hotels is praiseworthy on two counts -- it affords opportunity to international guests to taste the regional cuisine and simultaneously, helps to elevate regional food to international platform. 

                And, if this regional dish is cooked in the star hotel by a housewife from the ethnic community in the same style in which she cooks at home, that is authentic regional home-style food -- a great value-addition to the culinary experience of discerning visitors. 

                While it is possible to enjoy universally popular dishes anywhere, it is an exclusive privilege to experience an authentic home-style cooked regional food, not easily available in many places.   

                Taj Group of hotels is making this possible and in the Taj hotels in the Nilgiris, it is the home-style cooking of the regional food of Badaga, the predominant community of the hilly district. 

                Jayalakshmi, a housewife in Bickole, a small hamlet of Badaga community, travels 20 kilometres by two buses daily to reach Taj Savoy Hotel Ooty and does the same to return home.  She prepares Badaga home-style food items which are cherished by visitors including foreigners. 

“I cook everything as in our Badaga home.   This includes Badaga speciality ‘Avarai Udhakka’, the prestigious dish for our community feast”, Jayalakshmi told me.

“Nilgiri Kaikari Udhakka, Dhotti, thuppathittu, pothittu, sweet puff, ghasu-gosu curry and sweet paniyaram are among the favourites with visitors”, she said.

“This is part of our corporate social responsibility to support women belonging to Badaga predominant indigenous community and simultaneously popularise Nilgiri regional food among international tourists”, Savoy General Manager P Vibhakar said.

“Our Badaga Thali prepared home-style is a great hit with foreigners”, Executive Chef Ravi Ekamburam noted.

I photographed Jayalakshmi preparing 'paniyaram' at New Year 2015 Breakfast at Taj Savoy ::

              Likewise in The Gateway Hotel Coonoor, K Indra, housewife from the Badaga village of Edappalli,  is a familiar face among the guests at the GAD (Gateway All Day) restaurant. 

“Daily, I come by bus and also walk some distance up and down.  Every day at the hotel, I cook Badaga home-style 10 regional cuisines. This includes Badaga speciality ‘Avarai Udhakka’.    Ghasu dhotti, Uppukorai, Sandaga, Ennai Ittu and Ghasu-Choppu are among the favourites with visitors”, she told me. 

Indra is famous because of her live counters.  "I make varieties of bonda, vadai, bajji, pakhora, ennai ittu, kalikkittu payasam and ubbittu at the live counter.  As this is live counter, guests can see for themselves how we make such food at our homes", she said. 

I photographed Indra preparing Vadai, thagaru masala and pothittu (pan cake) at Christmas-eve dinner at The Gateway Hotel Coonoor ::

"We are unable to think of banquets without our Badaga regional food as guests are looking forward to the same", Chef Ramalingam said. 

"Traditionally, Badagas are known for their hospitality.   Now, bringing this tradition into the hotel doubles up the hospitality experience for the guests. Our home-style chefs interact with the guests and help them gain access into the intricacies of the menus.   Foreigners, as much as domestic visitors from across the country, are a great fan of these home-style chefs and their cuisines", Gateway General Manager R Muralidharan summed up. 

"It was, however, not easy to move Badaga housewives from their familiar comforts of home kitchen to the unknown contours of star hotel kitchen.  We had to do some ice-breaking motivation through their whole family.  Now, they feel satisfied when they see applauding guests", Human Resources Manager D Antony Gerald added.    

 

                
                     

FOOD -- 1 ::

NOW, FOREIGNERS CAN TASTE 10 VARIETIES OF IDLIS AT SAVOY OOTY

BY P S SUNDAR

                      

               Foreign tourists visiting Nilgiris this Pongal season and beyond can enjoy a variety of the south Indian crown-delicacy, idlis, thanks to ‘Idli corner’ added to regular breakfast at Taj Savoy Hotel Ooty.

“Now, foreigners can enjoy 10 varieties of idlis – plain, kambu, raagi, keerai, rava, wheat, Kanchipuram, pickle, green peas and carrot.   Five chutneys accompany – coconut, tomato, peanut, dhal and mint. Idli podi with gingely oil is also available”, Executive Chef Ravi Ekamburam told me.

“We experimented with this for some days and discovered high patronage among North Indian and foreign visitors.  So, we have added ‘idli corner’ to daily breakfast buffet”, he said.

“Five of us are visiting from Taiwan and Hogkong.  All of us are tasting such delicious idlis for the first time in our life.  We enjoyed all varieties during our three mornings at Savoy”, Shio Kuan from Taiwan said.

“Idli Corner adds value to buffet breakfast as it helps foreigners understand Tamil culinary culture”, Savoy General Manager P Vibhakar added.

Executive Chef Ravi Ekamburam explaining the idli varieties at 'Idli Corner' in Taj Savoy Ooty ::

Regular plain idli, pudhina idli and raagi idli seen at 'Idli Corner' :: 

Mint (pudhina) idli ::

Raagi idli ::

Some variety accompaniments to the varieties of idlis at 'idli corner' ::

CELEBRATION -- 5 ::

USHERING IN 2015 AT TAJ SAVOY OOTY

BY P S SUNDAR

             Amidst colourful lighting, candlelight restaurant, Crib, balloons, music -- Tamil, Hindi, English etc -- DJ, dance, multi-cuisine spread dinner and Greetings everywhere, foreigners and Indians ushered in 2015 at Taj Savoy Ooty.

             The General Manager P Vibhakar did the exemplary act of leading his team both from the front and supporting from the rear.   This was important because he had taken some drastic decisions regarding the conduct of this year's show based on the cost-benefit and guest feedback studies of the last few years. The vital change was to lay accent on indoor and in-house.

            "In-house guests have come to usher in New Year here and the hotel is running full-house.   Based on guests' feedback, to help them overcome chillness, we are utilising the excellent ambiance of our palatial indoor.  Both the food and the guests are warm. Besides, this ties up some loose ends in cost-benefit ratio", Vibhakar told me.  

             Colour lights traced the contours of the 19th century built colonial style cottages, foyer, courtyard and traced a silhouette of the fence and trees.  In such a backdrop, resting on the recliners on the lawn illuminated naturally by the moon light transported  the guests to a dream land.   Here is a sample of Taj Savoy Ooty donning a colourful countenance during New Year - 2015 celebrations::

    
               Here is a look into guests enjoying the sumptuous spread of the New Year buffet -- continental, oriental including Chinese, Indian including South Indian, confectionery and bakery products besides ice creams and desserts.  While Executive Chef Ravi Ekamburam took care of the menu, his team of chefs implemented the decisions and Indian menu senior Chef Joseph Jayaraj manned a live counter of dosas offering varieties...   

  

 

                Youths were aplenty.  They enjoyed contemporary music.  There were foreigners of all ages who felt at home in Indian atmosphere to welcome New Year.   Elders from different Indian states who had come with their kith and kin felt safe.  Here is a glimpse of everyone shaking to the tune and music of the DJs..::

                   Then came the countdown ... in the voice of the DJs and the guests loud and clear .... 10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1.. HAPPY NEW YEAR .. the Greetings echoed all over Savoy .. there was cheer everywhere exchanging the Greetings with known and unknown..

                   The Savoy team which had put in month long hard work for this Happy moment flashed a 2015 clock high on the wall with the message:: 

   "MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE ..

                    HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015".

CELEBRATION -- 4 ::

FOREIGNERS WELCOME 2015 AT TAJ SAVOY OOTY

BY P S SUNDAR                  

                   Braving biting cold, Christians attended midnight New Year mass in churches in Nilgiris on Wednesday night.

Foreigners joined residents at hotels and ushered in 2015 with dinner, dance and greetings.

“This is our first visit to Nilgiris but it is eventful as Indians help us welcome 2015 in style at Taj Savoy New Year treat”, Stale Rygh, psychiatrist from Norway, told me. 

“Savoy’s food variety, colourful lights, games and cheerful welcoming of the New Year made us feel at home”, Dai Carpenter, sportsperson from Wales, said.

“Savoy helped us attend midnight mass at Ooty’s historical St Stephen’s Church”, Shiao Kuan Maddox of Taiwan noted.

“This New Year at Savoy has become memorable for us as it has given energetic start”, Candy So, bank officer from Hongkong, noted.

“Some foreigners have collected menus of Indian dishes from our Executive Chef Ravi Ekamburam”, Savoy General Manager P Vibhakar added.

                    Photo:: Stale Rygh from Norway (left) and Dai Carpenter at New Year Treat at Savoy Ooty on Wednesday night::

  

                       Photo::  Candy So from Hongkong (left) and Shiao Kuan Maddox from Taiwan at New Year Treat at Savoy Ooty on Wednesday night::